No outbreak and no need to lockdown — such was the assurance of the Department of Health (DoH) this week despite the recent school cancellations prompted by the Influenza-Like Illness (ILI).
Based on official DoH data released recently, 6,457 ILI cases were listed from 28 September to 11 October this year, 25 percent lower than the 8,628 cases reported last year.
In spite this lower incidence, the DoH reminded everyone that the country is still in flu season because of the rainy season that started in June and continuing to the current monsoon season.
As such, the health department released information and protocols to avoid contacting and spreading the ILI.
Definition, symptoms
Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) or in Filipino, Mala-trangkasong sakit, said DoH in a video uploaded on its official Facebook page yesterday, citing the World Health Organization, is accompanied by fever that does not go down the 38 degrees-centigrade mark.
Other symptoms include air passageway symptoms from the nose to the lungs, specifically, cough or cold.
Also enumerated as symptoms are throat inflammation, head ache, chills, body ache, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea.
DoH stressed that not all these symptoms are present in a person with ILI. A person could experience only one, two or three of the symptoms, but these should include respiratory symptoms to qualify as ILI.
Causes
According to DoH, ILI is caused by different kinds of bacteria and viruses, not only one type. These include Influenza A and B, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Enterovirus and Rhinovirus.
DoH reiterated that cough or cold alone without fever is not ILI and could be caused by allergy or nasamid or temporary choking.
Transmission
The health department said that ILI transmits through first, from cough or cold droplets. Second, by touching your nose, mouth or eyes immediately after touching a contaminated item.
It takes three to four days for ILI symptoms to manifest in a person, but this can already spread from the person to others even before symptoms show.
Prevention and treatment
If already manifesting symptoms, DoH advised to stay in the house and refrain first from mingling with other people to not spread the illness, especially among “high-risk” groups that include those 65 and above; those with other health conditions or co-morbidities like diabetes, asthma, hypertension and heart disease; those pregnant or who just gave birth; and those four and below.
These were tagged as “high-risk” because ILI could cause more health troubles for these people if they get the illness, DoH warned.
For treatment, DoH prescribed taking medicines for fever like paracetamol; proper hydration by drinking a lot of water; resting well; and eating nutritious food like fruits and vegetables.
For those experiencing other symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain, and those with co-morbidities that contacted a suspected ILI, they have been recommended to go to the nearest health facility as soon as possible.
To prevent from contracting the illness, the DoH advised to always wash your hands and use alcohol-based sanitizers; avoid going to crowded places; make sure you are always in a well-ventilated space or a place with a good airflow; make sure to have completed all necessary vaccines like flu shots; and wear a mask.
Likewise, the health agency advised closing your mouth when you cough or sneeze or observing proper “cough etiquette” — that is, sneezing or coughing in a tissue or handkerchief, or in the absence of such, inside one’s shirt or in the sleeve of one’s top.
If you coughed or sneezed in your hand, wash your hands or apply an alcohol-based sanitizer immediately.
In addition to these, the DoH, as it stipulates in a new memorandum, instructed teachers and students to no longer go to school if they manifest symptoms; to practice social distancing of at least a meter or three feet apart; and to always clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs, desks and handrails, among others.
By observing these, DoH assured everyone that trangkaso (flu) would be “bye-bye.” Especially as the holidays approach, would it not be a truly happy Christmas without an illness?